Things to do

There is much to do and see in Fourteener Country. The avid outdoorsman will marvel at the abundance and quality of the areas outdoor recreational opportunities. Those wanting a special, relaxing mountain escape will be in awe of the beauty this area offers. One can take a leisurely drive through the mountains on one of the Scenic Byways; see old mines and sparkling reservoirs, peaceful roads lined with history and beauty to take your breath away. Historic districts and ghost towns dot the landscape by the fistful. There are museums, scenic trains, hot springs, wildlife viewing, shopping and more. Below you’ll find information and listings to help you design the perfect sight-seeing trip to the Central Colorado Mountains.

The tale of Alpine is one of buried treasure worthy of the storybooks. Legend tells of a band of Spanish gold-seekers passing through the rough countryside when Native Americans still had possession o... Details

Apple Fest is a festival celebrating the historic Turner Farm and its century-old apple orchard. The event offers a taste of an old-fashioned fair with activities designed for all ages. Apple Fe... Details

ATV Historical Color Tour is held in areas around Buena Vista each September. Participants of this fall 4 x 4 all terrain vehicle rally and mountain festival will visit the area's old mining... Details

The Autumn Color Run is held in Buena Vista each year on the 3rd Saturday in September. The ACR features one of the most beautiful and popular Half Marathon routes in Colorado. The Half Marathon begin... Details

Many mines have come and gone and sometimes come again over the years. Some have led to firmly established towns, but others have left only dilapidated buildings in their wake. In the latter category ... Details

As one would expect from a mining area that has experienced boom and bust, many ghost towns remain in central Colorado to remind us of the dreams and joys, disappointments and devastations of many a p... Details

The river park in Buena Vista has become one of the premier whitewater play parks in the Rocky Mountains. Funded by the town of BV and a Great Outdoors Colorado grant, the whitewater park is much more... Details

This scenic drive is one where you will enjoy thorough mountain experience for the entire day. The 10.6 mile drive from Nathrop to St. Elmo in Chaffee County has hot springs, hiking trails, roadside a... Details

Since 1916 The Climax Molybdenum Mine has been a major factor in the economy of the Leadville area. Molybdenum is an alloy used to make steel stronger. The demand for the alloy increased during ... Details

The annual Collegiate Peaks Stampede Rodeo happens at the Chaffee County Rodeo Grounds in Buena Vista . (West at the traffic light in town at Highway 24 and Main Street; Turn left on County Road 321.)... Details

Just over six miles west of Granite, the remains of Columbia City are worth getting to for the spectacular views the area affords. When Walter Cameron first hit pay dirt in 1893, the Josephine Lode, a... Details

When the Denver South Park & Pacific Railroad first reached Buena Vista, they had an agreement with the Denver and Rio Grande to share track to Gunnison and Leadville. Soon, changes in manag... Details

One of the closest place to enjoy the fall foliage is directly west of Buena Vista. At the traffic light, travel on West Main Street, which becomes Chaffee County Road 306. Head into the mountains. At... Details

In 1870, General William Jackson Palmer incorporated the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad to serve Colorado and the West. The D&RG built from Denver south to Pueblo then turned west along the ... Details

Not many places in the country have such large amounts of aspen trees as Colorado does, arguably the most admired leaf-bearing tree in the state. When the sunlight reflects just right on yellow aspen ... Details

Every June since 1949, Salida celebrates First in Boating the Arkansas, the nation's oldest festival dedicated to whitewater racing. Besides the main distance race, FIBArk has water events such as... Details

Less than seven miles beyond Winfield in the Clear Creek area lies the Fortune Mine. Although access to the mine itself is closed due to extreme danger, as you travel up CR 390, you can see the scars ... Details

The road to Hancock is slow, but beautiful. There's very little left of the town, but the lovely meadow and views make the trek worthwhile. The once-expansive Hancock had thrived as a railroad tow... Details

Of all the ghost towns in Colorado, St. Elmo is one of the best preserved. This is because it has never been completely abandoned and its die-hard residents have jealously protected it over the years.... Details

Once a bustling mining town, Vicksburg enjoyed a general store, a post office, a school, two hotels, two billiard halls, several saloons, a livery stable, a blacksmith, and an assay office. Located ne... Details

Boom and bust are recurring themes in the central Colorado mine fields. The town of Winfield, first called Florence and then Lucknow, reached a population of around 1,500 in 1890 after being founded o... Details

Some old mining towns don't even have enough left for ghosts to haunt. One such is Romley, on the road to Hancock. During its heyday, between 400 and 1000 people lived and worked there, with multi... Details

Celebrating Buena Vista's Old West and mining heritage, Gold Rush Days has been a town signature event since 1950. Live music, blacksmith demonstrations, the rubber ducky race, kids train, and a v... Details

One of the most remote mining areas in Clear Creek Canon, the mining camp of Hamilton consisted of a mere four to five buildings. The Hamilton Mining and Tunnel Company operated here until 1905.
&nbs... Details

Healy House and Dexter Cabin is a pair of house museums owned by History Colorado, the Colorado state historical society. The house sits on top of the hill at 912 Harrison Avenue, Leadville.&nbs... Details

The Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad, also known as the South Park Kenosha Pass Railroad Display
Line, was a narrow-gauge railroad company that ran from Denver, up the South Platte River to B... Details

One of the most famous mines in central Colorado is the Mary Murphy. Different stories are told as to its discovery and naming. One version is that John Royal and Dr. Abner Wright found it in 1875.
&... Details

When the snow starts to melt and the river rises look for PaddleFest to mark the official kickoff to summer in the Arkansas Valley. Thousands of river enthusiasts from around the region and the world ... Details

Railroads have played a key role in the history of Colorado, and this is especially true in Fourteener Country.
The influence of the railroad expansionists has dwindled over the years, but their ... Details

Held in March in Leadville Ski Joring is a fan favorite.
Ski joring, the activity of a horse and rider pulling a skier from behind on snow-covered roads over snow jumps, is a wild winter sport an... Details

You can see pieces of that history come alive at South Park City in Fairplay, a multi-structure museum open during the summer months. Lovingly restored, South Park City consists of edifices ... Details

Due to private ownership, St. Elmo, in the Sawatch Mountains 20 miles to the southwest of Buena Vista, is the best preserved ghost town in the area. In fact, if there are actual ghosts, they share the... Details

One of the first mines in the area, the Swiss Boy produced mostly copper ore and silver. Although not much is known about it, there are records that until 1893, a number of prospectors worked it under... Details

Heading west from Winfield via the right hand fork, CR290 2A, will take you to what's left of the Tasmania Mine. It had been incorporated in 1899 by the Tasmania Mining and Milling Company out of ... Details

The beautiful Arkansas River flows from the historic town of Leadville, through the Sawatch mountain range and through the towns of Buena Vista, Salida and Canon City before continuing south. Al... Details

Fishing information is provided below for Buena Vista, the Arkansas River, and the high lakes region in the Collegiate Peaks to the west. Altitudes are included in the guide below for use in planning ... Details

The Colorado Midland Railway Company was incorporated in 1883 with a plan to build a standard-gauge railroad from Colorado Springs through Leadville and Aspen and on to Salt Lake City. Train ser... Details

The Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad followed the Platte River from Denver to Kenosha Pass, crossed South Park, and reached Buena Vista in 1880. The narrow-gauge railroad then tackled C... Details

Charles Thompson, J. K. Casteel and Annie Casteel laid claim to a valuable lode of ore in 1894. When filing with the Four Mile/Swift Water Mining District, they gave their mine the name Little Annie. ... Details

The Matchless Mine is one of the most famous mines in Leadville. Horace Tabor purchased the mine in 1879 and as a result of it became one of the richest men in Leadville and all of Colorado. The... Details

The Riverside Cemetery, also called the Mayol Cemetery, is situated about ten miles north of Buena Vista and east of Highway 24, along the Arkansas River. (Sec. 12, T13S, R79W, 6th P.M.)
There are si... Details

Top of the Rockies Byway National Scenic Highway and Historic Byway.
In 1999 this 115-mile stretch was designated as one of only 53 roads in the United States as a National Scenic Byway. &nbs... Details

Probably one of the most beautiful places to enjoy the fall colors is via Highway 82 from Twin Lakes to Independence Pass. (From Buena Vista, travel north on Highway 24 for 22 miles and turn west at t... Details

Wildlife viewing is a terrific family activity. Photography opportunities are abundant with the numerous mountain ranges and stunning scenery of our region. As if the whole area isn’t great enou... Details